Hearing aid

• US 7,010,137 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2000
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: K/S HIMPP
• Original Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation (SRI International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fritz, Frederick J., Sjursen, Walter P., Margicin, John M., Mahoney, Derek D., Demers, Robert R., Oltman, John E., Leedom, Marvin A., Maxwell, Robert C., Tardugno, Michael H., Aceti, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni, Suhan
• Application Number:
  US09/524,501
• Time in Patent Office: 2,185 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/322, 381/323, 381/324, 381/328, 381/329, 381/380, 429/27, 429/72, 429/86, 429/89, 429/96, 429/100, 429/110, 429/49
• US Class Current: 381/328
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/17 Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/456 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/609 of circuitry of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/65 Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/656 Non-customized, universal ear tips, i.e. ear tips which are not specifically adapted to the size or shape of the ear or ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/658 Manufacture of housing parts

Abstract

A hearing aid insertable into an ear canal includes a microphone which translates acoustic energy into electrical signals, signal processing circuitry which processes the electrical signals provided by the microphone, a receiver which converts the processed electrical signals into acoustic energy, and a power source connectable to the signal processing circuitry.

Claims

1. A battery for use in a hearing aid insertable into an ear canal, the battery being shaped to substantially conform to a longitudinal portion of the ear canal between an aperture and a first bend of the ear canal, the battery being generally cylindrical in shape having an outer diameter dimension which varies from D1 to D2 in a longitudinal direction along its length dimension L, D1 being less than D2, and wherein L is less than D1 or D2 and the battery fits in a housing in the hearing aid such that the diameter dimension extends traverse the ear canal, wherein the outer diameter dimension of the battery is less than D2 over a substantial portion of the battery along its length dimension L.

2. The battery of claim 1, wherein the battery includes at least one step going from D1 to D2.

3. The battery of claim 1, wherein the hearing aid is disposable.

4. The battery of claim 1, wherein the hearing aid is nondisposable.

5. The battery of claim 1, wherein the hearing aid has an elliptical diametric cross-sectional shape.

6. The battery of claim 1, wherein the battery is comprised of metal or plastic.

7. The battery of claim 1, wherein an outside diameter dimension of the battery increases abruptly from a distal end of the hearing aid to a proximal end.

8. The battery of claim 1, wherein the outer diameter dimension of the battery is less than D2 over at least about one third of the battery along its length dimension L.

9. The battery of claim 1, wherein the outer diameter dimension of the battery is less than D2 over about one half of the battery along its length dimension L.

10. A method for forming a battery for use in a hearing aid insertable into an ear canal, comprising shaping the battery to substantially conform to a portion of the ear canal between an aperture of the ear canal and a first bend of the ear canal, the battery being generally cylindrical in shape having an outer diameter dimension which varies from D1 to D2 in a longitudinal direction along its length dimension L, D1 being less than D2, and wherein L is less than D1 or D2 and the battery fits in a housing in the hearing aid such that the diameter dimension extends traverse the ear canal, wherein the outer diameter dimension of the battery is less than D2 over a substantial portion of the battery along its length dimension L.

11. The battery of claim 10, wherein the outer diameter dimension of the battery is less than D2 over at least about one third of the battery along its length dimension L.

12. The battery of claim 10, wherein the outer diameter dimension of the battery is less than D2 over about one half of the battery along its length dimension L.

13. A battery for use in a hearing aid insertable into an ear canal, the battery being shaped to substantially conform to a longitudinal portion of the ear canal between an aperture and a first bend of the ear canal, the battery being generally cylindrical in shape having an outer diameter dimension which varies from D1 to D2 in a longitudinal direction along its length dimension L, D1 being less than D2, and the battery fits in a housing in the hearing aid such that the diameter dimension extends traverse the ear canal, wherein the outer diameter dimension of the battery is less than D2 over a substantial portion of the battery along its length dimension L.

14. The battery of claim 13, wherein the battery includes at least one step going from D1 to D2.

15. The battery of claim 13, wherein the hearing aid is disposable.

16. The battery of claim 13, wherein the hearing aid is nondisposable.

17. The battery of claim 13, wherein the hearing aid has an elliptical diametric cross-sectional shape.

18. The battery of claim 13, wherein the battery is comprised of metal or plastic.

19. The battery of claim 13, wherein an outside diameter dimension of the battery increases abruptly from a distal end of the hearing aid to a proximal end.

20. The battery of claim 13, wherein the outer diameter dimension of the battery is less than D2 over at least about one third of the battery along its length dimension L.

21. The battery of claim 13, wherein the outer diameter dimension of the battery is less than D2 about one half of the battery along its length dimension L.